ExtremeRavens Posted July 26 Posted July 26 Friday marked a key turning point in training camp as the Ravens donned pads for the first time, creating opportunities for coaches to evaluate players battling along the line of scrimmage. “This is the start of football,” coach John Harbaugh said. “We’ve done all the stuff we needed to do to prepare for today, and then you get to today, and you start evaluating football.” As has been the case since camp opened last weekend, defenders spent much of the afternoon crashing into the backfield to stifle an attack that’s still missing ailing quarterback Lamar Jackson. Coaches were nonetheless measured in their assessments of an offensive line that’s operating with just two established starters, center Tyler Linderbaum and left tackle Ronnie Stanley. “The lines both looked good,” Harbaugh said. “What you don’t want to do is see guys get crazy with their technique when they come out and put the pads on. But I felt like we didn’t. They stayed square. They stayed in control. They had their feet underneath themselves. We didn’t have a bunch of mistakes. A little bit, but not too many mental errors, not too much jumping offsides.” Offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris said he saw plenty of good blocks from his group and some that needed fixing. “You saw hustle, you saw effort, you saw finish,” he said. Harbaugh has said he’d like to have a grip on who will start beside Linderbaum and Stanley going into the team’s first preseason game Aug. 9 against the Philadelphia Eagles. On Friday, he described that as a “best-case scenario” given that the Ravens are experimenting with various alignments, using Daniel Faalele at right guard, for example, instead of at his more familiar right tackle spot. “Is that unrealistic?” Harbaugh said of nailing down a plan over the next two weeks. “I don’t necessarily expect it to be the case. The game is a big deal. If you go into that first week with a good idea and the game confirms everything, then you feel great. If you don’t, then OK, you just keep working the guys in as you go.” Regardless, competition for those three open jobs began in earnest Friday. “It really is too early to make any statements,” Harbaugh said. “Today’s when you start getting more of a good feel. Until the pads come on, you can’t make any determinations on offensive line play.” Odafe Oweh continues to bring the pressure Earlier this week, Harbaugh acknowledged that he had to have a quick chat with the fourth-year pass rusher about staying off his quarterbacks and blowing up drills with his relentless pass rush. With the pads on, Oweh unleashed more fury Friday, beating Stanley twice during the first five reps of full-team drills for would be sacks, capping what had already been a standout week for him. Oweh will be even more vital to the team’s pash rush after Jadeveon Clowney took his talents — 9 1/2 sacks and 19 quarterback hits in 2023 — to the Carolina Panthers. The Ravens picked up his fifth-year option in the offseason, betting he still has plenty of room to grow. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr thinks Oweh is one of many who will cover for the loss of Clowney’s production. “I think the production can be made by a lot of those guys. [There are] a lot of candidates in that room, specifically,” Orr said Wednesday. “Obviously, you’ve got David Ojabo, and we’ve got Kyle Van Noy back, which helps out. ‘Daf’ [ Oweh] — we expect him to have a big year.” Secondary showcases new way to dominate With Jackson out again, the Ravens’ secondary took advantage of some tight coverage and errant throws from quarterbacks Devin Leary, Josh Johnson and Emory Jones, snagging three more interceptions today. In addition to picks from Bump Cooper Jr., Daryl Worley and Sanoussi Kane, the secondary pulled out something new: blitzes. Several defensive backs rushed off the edge untouched for would-be sacks, with Authur Maulet and Brandon Stephens leading the charge. Former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald leaned on the unit’s depth and versatility to generate big plays in 2023, and Orr will look to do the same this season. Time for another rookie to be crowned? Earlier this week, “Nasty Nate” was born as Marlon Humphrey forced Nate Wiggins, the team’s first-round draft pick, to reveal his nickname to the world. After Friday’s practice, it might be time for another rookie to do the same. Fourth-round pick Devontez Walker turned heads with a series of impressive grabs, standing up to challenges when Wiggins and other cornerbacks tried to jam him at the line of scrimmage. Practice ended in fitting passion after sixth-round pick Leary threw a back shoulder fade to Walker, who made an impressive grab for a touchdown over …”Nasty Nate”. If Walker keeps making plays like that, he’ll get a nickname of his own soon enough. Kyle Van Noy misses practice Other than Jackson, the veteran outside linebacker was the only player freshly absent from Friday’s padded session. Harbaugh said Van Noy, who returned to Baltimore on a two-year deal worth up to $9 million, was dealing with minor neck soreness. The 33-year-old is coming off a career year in which he had nine sacks in 14 games after joining the team as a free agent in late September. View the full article Quote
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